Tipp’s depth in good shape

GAA: Celtic Challenge – Minor Hurling All-Ireland ‘A’ Semi-Final

Tipperary Blue 3-22

Clare Blue 0-14

Report: Michael Dundon at Pairc Shilean, Templemore

Tipperary’s seventeen point win over Clare in the Celtic Challenge, All-Ireland Minor Hurling competition on Saturday is an endorsement of the excellent work being done in the county at under-age level and reflects the depth of the pool of talent coming on stream.

The win sends the Tipp Blue selection forward to contest the final against Kilkenny, equally impressive winners over Galway in their semi-final.

The Celtic Challenge competition is for players in county development squads who do not figure on the actual county minor team. Like many of the other counties Tipperary fielded two teams, the Blue selection, being winners over Wexford in their quarter final.

While Tipperary were fancied, Clare were considered serious opposition but from the word go the home side dominated. Initially scores were slow in coming. Tipp led 0-6 to 0-2 after twenty minutes and Clare had totted up six wides, but Charlie Lawlor’s goal for Tipperary strengthened the home side’s grip on things and they went on to lead 1-11 to 0-6 at half-time, scores coming from Luke Murphy, Kevin Grace (2), Morgan O’Connor (3), Owen Kennedy (2), Noah Power and Charlie Lawlor (1-2).

Four of Clare’s first half scores came from frees, their poor return from play attributable to tight Tipperary defending and some erratic shooting on their part also.

The Banner needed a good start to the second half to rescue their campaign but inside five minutes, O’Connor (2) and Power extended the Tipp lead. After seven minutes, Morgan O’Connor put the game beyond their reach when he reacted quickly to a long-range free whipping the breaking ball to the net.

Trailing 2-15 to 0-7, the Clare boys’ heads dropped and Tipp dictated to the finish, Owen Kennedy getting the third goal at the three quarter mark off a Charlie Cairns delivery. Tipp mentors then emptied the bench secure in the knowledge that their spot in the final against Kilkenny was beyond doubt.

With the Tipp minors already in the All-Ireland semi-final after their Munster success, and the second squad through to their All-Ireland final, Tipp underage hurling is in a good place and hopefully the hard work being done at this level will pay off in adult competition in the coming years. There is a wealth of young talent coming on stream. Morgan O’Connor gave a man of the match performance in attack but Luke Murphy, Charlie Cairns, Owen Kennedy, Kevin Grace and James Heffernan, were also very impressive.

Clare did not play up to expectations. Their lack of a real scoring threat was a big disadvantage.

A nine point from play return was not nearly enough to backbone a win. They had some quality players in their side however, in particular, Hugh Vaughan, Ollie Sherlock, Evan Cusack, Steve Clancy and Barry Murphy, but not enough of them to undo a very fine Tipperary side.

Player of the Match: Morgan O’Connor (Tipperary).

Tipperary: Cathal Ryan (Loughmore/Castleiney); Aaron Lane (Newport 0-1), Jack R Walsh (Carrick Swan), Ruairi Hackett (Kiladangan); Charlie Cairns (Burgess), Luke Murphy (Roscrea 0-1), Owen Fanning (Killenaule); Stephen O’Brien (Newport, Capt 0-1), James Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Og 0-1); Morgan O’Connor (Cappawhite 1-8, 0-5f), Eoin Kennedy (Boherlahan-Dualla 1-4), Alan Burke (Shannon Rovers); Charlie Lawlor (Durlas Og 1-2), Kevin Grace (Ballinahinch 0-2), Noah Power (Carrick Swan 0-2).

Subs used: Sean Lamphier (Moycarkey/Borris), Daniel McDonald (Loughmore/Castleiney), Ultan O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Charlie Carroll (Roscrea), Shane O’Mahoney (Ballylooby/Castlegrace).

Extended panel: Odhran Ryan (Burgess), Conor Doherty (Moycarkey/Borris), Adam Whyte (Toomevara), Michael Dooley (Roscrea), Sean Og Hayes (Drom & Inch), Dara Beckett (St Mary’s), Evan Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs), Dara Kelly (Toomevara), Darragh Cornally (Durlas Og), Cathal Ivors (Ballingarry), Rhys Cottrell (Nenagh Eire Og).

Clare: Sean O’Gorman; Dillon McInerney, Fergal Queally, Patrick O’Looney; Stephen Clancy (0-2), Barry Murphy, Louis O’Dwyer; Evan Cusack (0-1), Owen McCarthy; Grady Hogan, Ollie Sherlock (0-2f), Shane Dilleen (0-1); David Buckley (0-1), Hugh Vaughan (0-7, 5f), Donagh Walsh-Forde.

Referee: Kieran Guina (Limerick).